Yeoman's in the Fork Blog

The life of a rare book cataloger is not always a pretty one. To most, it brings about no significant eminence. It is an occupation chosen only by those who are passionate. Simply put, it is a game played only by those that love the game.

I started this "game" several months ago. I got word of an opportunity with Yeoman’s from acquaintances and it immediately piqued my interest. I've always enjoyed reading and needed more outlets to ameliorate my knowledge of history. And to be honest, telling people that I'm involved in the rare and historical book and document business did sound important, almost prestigious. When I started at Yeoman’s, like most jobs, I started at the very bottom. I began with sorting (moving boxes and books around in a very hot warehouse), moved up to janitorial duties (yes that was a step up), before eventually working my way up to cataloging. Even with my interest in reading, cataloging was more difficult than it sounded. Since most of the books I work with are antiquarian, finding information on some of them can prove to be quite the challenge. We always want to be 100% accurate in our listings so determining whether a book is the first edition, if it has the original binding, etc. is a must. Through time, a bit of trial and error, and a ton of patience, I’ve been able to gain vast knowledge and insight into these books and feel much more confident in my ability.

Yes, indeed the life of the rare book cataloger is one of passion. A game I continue to play with a team that does indeed play to win.